Cleaner-sanitizer



United States PatentO CLEANER-SANITIZER Marvin. Kopp, Jersey City, N. ,J., assignor to General Aniline & Film Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corn t i f Delawar N0, Drawing. ApplicationJanuar-ylQ, 1952,

Serial No. 267,311

Claims. (Cl. 252-106) This invention relates to a cleaner-sanitizer in freefiowing powder form comprising a water-soluble nonionic detergent, a quaternary ammonium detergent germicide, and a brightening agent of the stilbene sulfonate type. Dilute aqueous solutions of this powder clean, disinfect, and brighten soiled clothing such as linen uniforms, and is particularly suitable for use in self-service laundry machines.

Liquid compositions containing both a quaternary ammonium compound and a brightening agent of the stilbenesulfonate type are not practical; since upon storage HO under ordinary conditions, the brightening agent reacts with the quaternary compound, and fabrics washed there-- with become grey and off-color.

It has been found in accordance with the invention that a free-flowing powder composition containing a watersoluble nonionic detergent, a water-soluble quaternary detergent germicide and a water-soluble brightening agent of the stilbene sulfonate type is stable and has good shelf life. Dilute aqueous laundering solutions made up from this composition clean, disinfect and brighten soiled clothing.

The objects achieved in accordance with the invention as described herein include the provision of a cleanersanitizer composition in free-flowing powder form comprising a water-soluble nonionic detergent, a quaternary ammonium detergent germicide and a brightening agent of the stilbene sulfonate type, dilute aqueous solutions of which clean, disinfect and brighten soiled clothing; the provision of such compositions which additionally contain a carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt; the provision of such compositions which additionally contain inorganic builder or filler; and other objects which will be apparent as details or embodiments of the invention are set forth hereinafter.

In order to facilitate a clear understanding of the invention, the following preferred specific embodiments are described in detail. The compositions in the following examples were prepared by mechanically mixing the components in the indicated proportions, and the resulting compositions were free-flowing dry powders.

Parts in Composition Example 1 2 3 4 5 5 Liquid nonionic detergent (1 mol of nonyl phenol condensed with 9 mols of ethylene Soda ash (as anhydrous) Sodium sulfonated naphthalene formaldehyde condensate (Tamol) Carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt Sodium ethylene-bis-(ininodiacetate) (Nul lapon B) Sodium bis-[2-morpholino-4-anisidino-l,3,5- triitzyl-(fi)]-4,4-diaminostilbene-2,2-disulfo- 112. e

cations of the foregoing examples.

Patented Apr. 17, 1956 Wash tests were conducted with 0.3% aqueous solutions of these dry powder compositions in Easton, Pennsylvania, tap water at F., (using a U. S. Testing Co. Terg-O- Torneter). .The wash solutions were made up,jallowed to age 15 minutes, then clean cloth was added and agitation at R. P. M. maintained for 15 minutes. Each wash was followed by a two minute rinse. In each example there was no sign of discoloration of thecloth compared to ablank run concurrently; and the washed cloth exhibited fluorescence under ultraviolet light.

' 'Each laundering solution of the above types cleans,

disinfects and brightens soiled clothing such as hospital uniforms, diapers, and the like.

Comparable results are obtained with various modifi- The water-soluble nonionic detergent is generally a polyoxyalkylene derivative of a hydroxy compound, such as anorganic acid or an alcohol or phenol containing a suflicient number of alkylene oxide groups to make it water-soluble. The quarternary ammonium detergent germicide generally is a water-soluble quaternary ammonium compound containingv ananion, and at least one higher hydrocarbon radical; and these may be typified by cetyltrimethylammonium chloride, the cocoanut fatty alkyl dimethylbenzylammonium chloride, cetyldimethyl-o-chlorobenzylammonium bromide, higher alkyl dimethylmethalylammonium chloride wherein the higher alkyl contains from 10 to 18 carbon atoms, and in some instances a higher alkyl quaternary ammonium chloride having oxyalkylene groups attached directly to the nitrogen.

The water-soluble brightening agents of the stilbene sulfonate type generally contain an aroyl-amino or a substituted aroyl-amino group on each stilbene ring, or a triazl-or substituted triazyl-amino group on each stilbene ring. These brightening agents should be free of any groups which would interfere with their brightening activity; i. e., they should be free of primary arylamine groups which tend to become colored under oxidizing conditions.

Instead of the pyrophosphate sequestering agent, analogous materials may be used, such as sodium tripolyphosphate or glassy hexametaphosphate, or an organic sequestering agent may be included, such as an amine polycarboxylic acid sodium salt (obtainable via the condensation of amines with chloracetic acid or the like). Builders such as sodium metasilicate, soda ash, and the like, or fillers such as sodium sulfate, sodium chloride and the like may be included. A small proportion of a lower alkyl naphthalene sulfonate may be included as well as a small proportion of carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt.

The ranges of proportions of ingredients are 10 to 35 parts of the nonionic detergent, 0.5 to 5 parts of the quaternary ammonium detergent germicide, and 0.001

to 0.2 part of the brightening agent; and if desired, 1 to 5 parts of the sodium salt of carboxymethyl cellulose, or 50 to 85 parts of inorganic addend such as builder or filler, or mixtures thereof.

The compositions are used in dilute aqueous solutions such as of the order of 0.05 to 1%, and the concentration is adjusted to the amount of washing effect desired. The washing solutions are freshly prepared and used directly; e. g. by adding the powder to the water in a self-service laundry machine, so that their function is performed in one-half to one hour after the solution is made up.

It is indeed surprising that compositions of the invention are so stable and efficient for cleaning, disinfecting and brightening soiled clothing; especially in view of the known adverse effects of the quaternary compounds upon the stilbene sulfonate type compounds'in liquid cleanersanitizer compositions. Furthermore, the compositions of the invention overcome the known adverse influence of quaternary ammonium compounds upon the washing ability of nonionic detergents. The compositions of the invention containing the carboxymethyl cellulose salt are particularly efiective in preventing soil from becoming ingrained in the clothing, especially in the final rinse; and this effect is more pronounced than for the carboxymethyl cellulose salt alone or a mixture thereof with a quaternary compound.

In view of the foregoing disclosures, variations and modifications of the invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and it is intended to include within the invention all such variations and modifications except as do not come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cleaner-sanitizer in the form of a dry, free-flowing, powder comprising to 35 parts of a water-soluble nonionic detergent, 0.5 to 5 parts of a water soluble quaternary ammonium detergent germicide, 0.001 to 0.2 part of a stilbene sulfonate brightening agent, and 50 to 85 parts of inorganic alkali metal detergent addend.

2. A powder of claim 1 containing parts nonyl phenol condensed with 8 mols of ethylene oxide, 2.5 parts benzyl-trimethyl-ammonium chloride, and 0.1 part sodium bis-[2 morpholino-4-anisidino-1,3,5-triazyl-(6) 4,4'-diaminostilbene-2,2-disulfonate.

3. A powder of claim 1 containing parts rosin condensed with mols of ethylene oxide, 1.5 parts benzyltrimethyl-ammonium chloride, and 0.1 part sodium bis- [2 morpholino 4 anisidino-1,3,5-triazyl-(6)]-4,4'-diaminostilbene-2,2-disulfonate.

4. A powder of claim 1 containing 30 parts rosin condensed with 50 mols of ethylene oxide, 1.5 parts benzyltrimethyl-ammonium chloride, and 0.1 part sodium bis- [2 morpholino 4 anisidino-1,3,5-triazyl-(6)1-4,4'-diaminostilhene-Z,2-disulfonate and a sequestering agent comprising 1.0 part sodium ethylene diamine tetra-acetate.

5. A powder of claim 1 containing 15 parts nonyl phenol condensed with 8 mols of ethylene oxide, 2.5 parts benzyl-trimethyl-ammonium chloride, and sodium bis(dihydroxyethylamino benzoyl) 4,4 diamino-stilbene-2,2-disulfonate and in addition thereto, 7 parts sodium sulfonate methylene formaldehyde condensate and 3 parts sodium carboxymethyl cellulose.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,335,194 Nusslein et al. Nov. 23, 1943 2,567,796 Ackermann Sept. 11, 1951 2,577,773 Lambert Dec. 11, 1951 2,643,198 Savidge et a1. June 23, 1953 

1. A CLEANER-SANITIZER IN THE FORM OF A DRY, FREE-FLOWING, POWDER COMPRISING 10 TO 35 PARTS OF A WATER-SOLUBLE NONIONIC DETERGENT, 0.5 TO 5 PARTS OF A WATER SOLUBLE QUATERNARY AMMONIUM DETERGENT GERMICIDE, 0.001 TO 0.2 PART OF A STILBENE SULFONATE BRIGHTENING AGENT, AND 50 TO 85 PARTS OF INORGANIC ALKALI METAL DETERGENT ADDEND. 